Bush issued the comment because “he decided that Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s venture into birtherism has gone on long enough,” Rubin wrote.

“In an exclusive statement to Right Turn, he e-mailed me: ‘Republican candidates should categorically reject the notion that President Obama was not born in the United States. It is a complete distraction from the failed economic policies of the President.’ And that was it.

“In two short, declarative sentences he told his party that this way lies madness. The country, the party and the conservative movement are at a crossroads. Our economic future and the viability of a Republican Party that is both responsible and forward looking are at stake. This is not the time for foolishness. That is the essence of the message,” Rubin wrote.